Pass It To The Left

The last day of school is an easy day to stray from routines. Students are excited and teachers are tired. So as I headed out to visit classrooms this morning I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

As I entered the first classroom I noticed that everyone was sitting around in a circle. Just like they had done everyday. I had walked in right in the middle of their Family Meeting. So I decided to join the circle. And it was one of the best split second decisions I have ever made.

By the time I entered, about half of the class family had already shared. Everyone was required to share something and everyone was required to listen respectfully. At one point when someone was sharing, one of the cafeteria workers came in the room to collect the leftover breakfast. This distracted some students. But for all of the right reasons. They were no longer focused because they were trying to help point out to the cafeteria worker that she had overlooked a few items. It wasn’t that they were deliberately ignoring their classmate sharing, they simply were more concerned about helping someone in need. Because that’s what families do.

Not long after, I had the opportunity to share and when I did I rambled on about this and about that. To be quite honest, I can’t really remember what I shared. Other students followed me and they each shared something of significance to them. And then it was their teacher’s turn to share. I had no idea what he was going to say. He has a great sense of humor and likes to joke around. So I was prepared for anything. But I was not prepared for what came next.

He paused and I knew something was different. For he is never lacking for words. But today was different. He realized that this would be the last Family Meeting with his very first class. We all remember our first classes. There is something special about the bond you form with them. You never forget it and you never have one quite like it again.

So when it was when it was Mr. Feldman’s turn to share. He kept it brief. With a tear in eye and his voice slightly quivering he told the kids how much they meant to him and how much this year meant to him. And everyone was silent. And then, as they always do, they crossed their arms in front of them and held hands. Boys holding boy’s hands. Girls holding girl’s hands. Boys holding girl’s hands. Family members holding family member’s hands.

And one last time Mr. Feldman led the class in passing the spirit of good will and fellowship to the left. He squeezed the hand of the person to his left once he felt. And they did the same. And so on and so on. Until we all felt this love and passed it to our lefts. It took less than a minute to go around. But what traveled around that circle was a year’s worth of fellowship and love. I was honored to be a part of this amazing experience.

Once it had made its way around the circle, everyone released hands and stood up to return to their seats. But one student did not return to his seat. He asked Mr. Feldman if he could give him a hug. Then another joined him. And another and another. Until it became one big, group family hug. It was beautiful. Look at the photo below and tell me if you can’t feel the warmth in that room.

I am sure Mr. Feldman will have many classes in the future that will touch his heart in ways that he could never imagine. But I don’t think that he will ever have a class like the one above. His very first class ever. The ones that he taught to pass it to the left.

Speaking Appearances

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Podcast Appearances

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“I absolutely loved Jon visiting our campus. He worked incredibly well with our students and staff and really shared great personal stories that connected with all. Days after Jon leaving, our students were still talking about the lessons they learned. Jon is a dynamic speaker who moves people. I would recommend him coming into any campus!”

Todd Nesloney, Principal Webb Elementary

“With a strikingly open and authentic perspective, Jon Harper takes the ordinary events of working in education and makes them extraordinary. He creates a reflective atmosphere which challenges full-time working graduate students to step back and find the silver lining in their own classroom mistakes. Harper’s approach on addressing personal mistakes is genuinely designed to work for educators at all levels in their career to make them a more meaningful educator.”

Brian Cook, Salisbury University

“Jon Harper, host of My Bad, spoke with our new teachers the other night. It was a roller coaster ride of emotion—we laughed, we cried, but most of all we thought about the students we work with everyday. His focus on being authentic and allowing our students to learn from their mistakes, as opportunities to grow, was exactly what our educators needed. Jon’s work is one of the best workshops I have participated in during my 23-year career.”

James P. Redman, Talbot County Curriculum Supervisor & former principal

“Jon Harper excels at getting to the heart of issues that impact us as professionals. The power of Jon’s presentation lies in his ability to expose his inner self to his audience to model the fact that showing our vulnerability can propel us forward rather than backward. He is genuine and purposeful in his thoughts, words, and actions and all audiences could benefit from hearing Jon speak.”